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BEIEF NOTICE 



Settlement 0f tlje Cduii cf |Ielutmi^Wi 



PREPARED BY 



A COMMITTEE WHO WERE CHARGED WITH THE DUTY OF 



ERECTING A MONUMENT 



iSlcmorg of it0 JTlrst SMIcxb, 

SEPTEMBEE, 1852. 

i8S7 

' BOSTON: 

PRINTED BY C. C. P. MOODY, 52 WASHINGTON STREET. 
1852. .i 



IIISTOllICAL NOTICE. 



A 



The Committee who have been entrusted with the duty of 
preparing and erecting this monument, deem it proper to 
i^L2 deposite, at^iie foundation, some historical facts relative to the 
first settlement of this town, together with a brief notice of 
each one of the men who were engaged in this enterprise, and 
their families. 

Newton originally formed a part of Cambridge. That 
territory which now forms the towns of Newton and Brighton, 
was called in the ancient records, " the South side of Charles 
River," " Cambridge Village," " New Cambridge," and " Non- 
antum, (the Indian name.) That part of Cambridge, now 
Newton, was set oft' from Cambridge, and made a township, 
in 1679. The original name for Cambridge, from its first set- 
tlement, in 1631, until the establislmient of Harvard College, 
in 1638, was New Town. 

The first settlers, (all who settled in Cambridge Village from 
1639 to 1664,) of this town did not come into the place in a 
body, as was the case in the settlement of many of our New 
England towns, but they came in one after another, from Eng- 
land and from the neighboring towns, as foUows : 

NAMES OF FIRST SETTLERS. 



Date of 
Scttlcm't 


Ape at 
Settlcm't 




■Where 
from. 


Time of 
iJcath. 


Age, 


Am't of 
Inventory. 




1639 


39 


Dea. John Jackson, 


London, 


1674-5 


75 


£1230 





-1G40 


30 


Dea. Samuel Hyde, 


(C 


1689 


79 






1643 


42 


Edward Jackson, 


(C 


1681 


79i 


2477 19 





1644 


33 


John Fuller, 


England, 


1698 


87 


^534 5 





„ 1647 


21 


Jonathan Hyde, 


London, 


1711 


85 






1647 




Richard Park, 


Cambridge, Ms. 


166,5 




972 





1649 


29 


Capt. Thomas Prentice 


England, 


1710 


89 






16«ri'^ 


35 


John Parker, 


Hinghara, IMs. 


1686 


71 


412 2 





1650 




Thomas Hammond, 


u 


1675 




1139 16 


2 



Date of 
Bettlemt. 


Apo at 
Settleni't. 




■Where 
from. 


Time of 
Death. 


Age. 


Am't of 

Inventory. 


1 


1650 




Vincent Druce, 


Ilingham, Ms. 


1678 




271 19 


^ 


*1650 
1650 


27 

21 


John Ward, 
James Prentice, 


Sudbury, " 
England, 


1708 
1710 


82 
81 


83 16 
286 14 


10 

, 


1650 
1654 




Tliomas Prentice, 2d, 
Thomas Wiswall, 


Dorchester, Ms. 


1683 




340 


1 



1658 
1661 


40 
23 


John Kenrick, 
Isaac Williams, 


Boston, " 
Koxburv, " 


1686 

1708 


82 
69 


85 6 


9 


1662 
1664 


34 
28 


Abraham Williams, 
James Trowbridge, 


Watertown, " 
Dorchester, " 


1712 
1717 


84 
81 


240 


i 
7 


1664 
1664 


34 

28 


John Spring, 
John Eliot, Jr., 


Watertown, " 
Roxbury, " 


1717 
1668 


87 
33 


457 2 


5 



Sons of Edward. 



Sons of Vincent. 
Sons of Samuel. 



In addition to these twenty, there were, at the time of Eliot's 
ordination, twelve young men of the second generation, nearly 
all unmarried, viz : 

John Jackson, Jr. 

Sebas Jackson, 

Jonathan Jackson, 

Noah Wiswall, Son of Thomas. 

John Kenrick 1 g^^^^ ^^ j^,^^^ ^^^^^.^^^ 

Ehjah Kenrick, ) 

Vincent Druce, Jr. 

John Druce, 

Samuel Hyde, 

Job Hyde, 

Thomas Park, Son of Eichard. 

Thomas Hammond, Jr. 
In 1656, the inhabitants of Cambridge Village formed a dis- 
tinct congregation for public worship. (See Holmes' History 
of Cambridge.) The same year, John Jackson and Thomas 
Wiswall, in behalf of the inhabitants, petitioned the General 
Court, to be released from paying rates for the support of the 
ministry at Cambridge church. The Town of Cambridge 
remonstrated against this petition, and stated " that many per- 
sons in whose names the petition is signed, although inhabi- 
tants, yet not by the approbation of the Town, having no right 
to town privileges, save only the land whereon they dwell, and 
others of them do live on the farms of those who as yet never 



*JoIiii Ward had conTcyed most. Of his property bj' deed of gift to his children befoi-c liis decease, 
which was the fact with regard to several of the first settlers, which of course was not included in 
their inventories. 



manifested their desire of any such change ; the most of them 
do live within fom- miles of om- meeting-house, except two or 
three farms that lie above the Falls on Charles River, near 
Dedham, and hardly ever go to meeting, and some of them are 
not much above two miles otl". 

" If they attain their desire, and set their meetinghouse at 
their pleasure, sundry of them will be farther from it than 
many of them now are from Cambridge church ; and upon the 
same ground, when they plead for a division, we have need to 
have at least four meeting-houses in our town, which now find 
it difficult to maintain one, as it should." 

The Court's Committee, Richard Russell, of Charlestown 
Eleazur Lusher, of Dedham, and Ephraim Child, of Water- 
town, reported against this petition, — the principal reason, in 
their report, was, that " if the petitioners should withdraw their 
help from Cambridge church and ministry, it would be over- 
burdensome to Cambridge to provide for the sujjport of their 
minister." The petitioners had leave to withdraw. 

In 1660, John Jackson, Senior, gave one acre of land for a 
meeting-house and for a burial-place, upon which the first 
meeting-house was erected, in 1660, where the monument 
(under which this statement is deposited) now stands ; this 
house was standing in 1717. (See Middlesex Deeds, Abraham 
Jackson to his son John, 24, 580.) 

In 1661, the inhabitants of Cambridge Village petitioned the 
General Court again, to be released from paying church rates 
to Cambridge. The erection of a new meeting-house had 
greatly strengthened their petition, and the Court accordingly 
granted them " freedom from all church rates for the support of 
the ministry in Cambridge, and for all lands and estates which 
were more than four miles from Cambridge meeting-house, 
the measure to be in the usual paths that may be ordinarily 
passed." 

The petitioners were not satisfied with the dividing line, and 
in 1662, they petitioned the Court for a new line. The action 
of the Court upon this petition was as follows : " Oct. 1662. 
In answer to the petition of John Jackson and Thomas Wis- 
wall, in behalf of the inhabitants of Cambridge Village, as a 



full and final issue of all things in controversy between the 
Town of Cambridge and the petitioners, the Court judge it 
meet to order and appoint, and fully empower Maj. William 
Hawthorne of Salem, Capt. Francis Norton of Charlestown, 
and Capt. Hugh Mason of Watertown, as a committee to give 
the petitioners, or some in their behalf, with some invited in 
behalf of the Town of Cambridge, opportunity to make their 
desires known, and Maj. Hawthorne to appoint the time and 
place for the hearing of what all parties can say, so it be fome- 
time before the next Court of elections ; and on the hearing 
thereof, to issue fully, and absolutely conclude and determine, 
what they shall judge necessary and just to be done, as to the 
determining the four mile bounds, that so this Court may no 
more be troubled thereabouts." 

This Committee ran the line and settled the bounds between 
the Village of Cambridge, in 1662, so far as ministerial taxes 
were concerned ; this, no doubt, is substantially the same line 
that now divides Newton from Brighton. 

On the 20th of July, the Rev. John Eliot, Jr., A. M., son of 
the Apostolic Eliot, of Roxbury, was ordained the first pastor 
of the first church in Cambridge Village, which was gathered 
on the same day ; the Elders and messengers of the churches 
of Roxbury and Dorchester, and of other neighboring towns, 
were present ; at the same time, and agreeably to the custom 
of that day, Thomas Wiswall, late a member of the Dorches- 
ter church, was ordained ruling Elder, or assistant to the Pas- 
tor, in inspecting and disciplining the flock. 

Eliot, Jr., graduated at Harvard College, 1656, became Mas- 
ter of Arts in 1659. He began to preach about the twenty- 
second year of his age. He is said to have been " an accom- 
plished person, comely proportion, ruddy complexion, cheerful 
countenance, and quick apprehension ; a good classical schol- 
ar, and possessed considerable scientific knowledge, for one of 
his age and period." A tender and inviolable affection subsisted 
between him and his people. Under the direction of his father, 
he obtained considerable proficiency in the Indian language, 
and was an assistant to him in missionary employment, 
until his settlement. After his ordination, he preached once in 



two weeks to the Indians, at Stoughton, and sometimes at Na- 
tick. He was twice married ; by his first wife, Sarah, he had 
a daughter, Sarah, born in 1662, who married John Bowles, 
Esq., of Roxbmy, 1687. By his second wife, Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Daniel Gookin, Esq., he had one son, John, born 1667, 
who was brought up and educated at Harvard College, by his 
grandfather Gookin, and married Mary, daughter of John 
Wolcott, and settled in Windsor, Connecticut. He died Oct. 
13, 1668, aged 33, and was interred very near this monument. 
The following extract is taken from his will, dated 6th August, 
1668. 

" I desire to commit my precious soul to God, Father, Son, 
and Holy Spirit, three glorious persons, but one only infinite, 
eternal being, in whom I have believed, and whom I have, 
(through his gi"ace,) chosen to be my only and everlasting por- 
tion ; relying and trusting only in the merits and satisfaction of 
the Lord Jesus Christ ; the eternal son of God and yet very 
man, who was made sin and death for me, that I might be 
made the righteousness of God in him ; and who was dead, 
but is now alive, sitting at the right hand of God, whom I 
trust to see with these eyes, and to be ever with him through 
eternity." 

His widow, EHzabeth, married Col. Edmund Quincy, Esq. of 
Braintree, 8th December, 1680, by whom she had two children, 
Edmund and Mary, and died 30th November, 1700. 

Eliot's homestead of twenty acres, was situated on the west- 
erly side of the Dedham road, about sixty rods north of the 
burial-place. The well where he drew up his cold water, and 
doubtless very near the spot where his dwelling-house stood, is 
still in use, and is now the property of Mrs. Edmands. 

The Eliot homestead continued to be the property of liis 
heirs for sixty-five years, after his death, and was then sold to 
Henry Gibbs, Esq., to raise money to cany his grandson, John 
Eliot, of Windsor, Connecticut, (then seventeen years old,) 
through College. 

On the 23d December, 1674, the Rev. Nehemiah Hobart, of 
Hingham, was ordained as the successor of Eliot, and second 
Pastor of the Church, where he preached forty years. 



8 



In 1672, Edward Jackson and John Jackson, in behalf of the 
inhabitants of Cambridge Village, petitioned the General 
Court, to be set off from Cambridge, and made an indepen- 
dent town by themselves. In answer to this petition, " The 
Court, in 1673, doth judge meet to grant to the inhabitants of 
said Village, annually to elect one Constable and three Select- 
men, dwelling among themselves, to order the prudential affairs 
of the inhabitants there, according to law, only continuing a 
part of Cambridge in paying County and Country rates, as 
also Town rates so far as refers to the Grammer School and 
Bridge over Charles River, and also their proportion of the 
charges of the Deputies." 

This action of the Court was not satisfactory to the Village, 
and they did not accept or act under it. 

In 1677, further action was had relative to the dividing line 
between Cambridge and the Village. The Village chose Capt. 
Thomas Prentice, James Trowbridge, Noah Wiswall, and Jon- 
athan Hyde, a Committee to settle the line by reference ; two 
referees to be chosen by the Village, and two from Cambridge, 
and they four to choose the fifth. The referees thus cho- 
sen were Richard Calicott, William Symes, William Johnson, 
William Bond, and Richard Louden. 

The result of this reference was a line described as follows : 
" Corner near the Widow John Jackson's orchard and a chest- 
nut tree in Mr. Edward Jackson's pasture, and to continue until 
it comes to the River ; then southerly by a heap of stones four 
miles from Cambridge meeting-house ; thence to continue until 
it comes to Boston, (now Brookline,) bounds ; dated July 27, 
1677, — probably tne line which now divides Newton from 
Brighton. 

In 1678, most of the Freemen from the Village, signed a 
petition to the General Court, praying to be set off from Cam- 
bridge, and be made a town by itself. The following is a copy 
of the petition : 

" To the Honoured Governor, Deputy Governor, together 
with the Hon. Magistrates now sitting in Boston : 
" The humble petition of us, the inhabitants of Cambridge 



Village, on the south side of Charles River, showeth, that the 
late war, as it hath been a great charge to the whole Colony, 
and to us in particular, both in our estates and persons, by loss 
of life to some, and others wounded, and disabled for their 
livelihood, besides all our other great charges in building our 
meeting-house and of late enlargement to it, and also our 
charge to the minister's house, and as you know the Lord took 
the worthy person from us in a little time, and now in great 
mercy, hath raised up another in the place, who hath a house 
in building for him which requires assistance, as also, we are 
now by the great mercy of God, so many families, that a school 
is required for the education of our children according to law, 
besides our public charge of the place ; yet notwithstanding 
this, last year the townsmen of Cambridge have imposed a tax 
upon us, amounting to the sum of three country rates, without 
our knowledge or consent, which we humbly conceive is very 
harsh proceeding, for any townsmen of their own will and 
power, to impose upon the inhabitants what taxes they please, 
and to what end, without even calling the inhabitants to con- 
sider about such charge : yet nevertheless, for peace sake, the 
inhabitants of our place did meet together, and jointly consent 
to give the town of Cambridge the sum of £100, and to pay 
it in three years, without desiring any profit or benefit from 
them, of wood, timber, or common lands but only for our free- 
dom, being content with our own proprietary, which some of 
us had, before Cambridge had any site there, which tender of 
ours they having rejected, as also to grant to us our freedom 
from them. 

" We do most humbly commend our distressed condition to 
the justice and mercy of this Hon'd Court, that you will please 
to grant to us our freedom from Cambridge, and that we may 
be a township of ourselves, without any more depend ance upon 
Cambridge, which hath been a great charge and burden to us, 
and also, that you would please to give the place a name, and 
if there should be any objection against us, that the honored 
Court will admit our reply and defence, so hoping the Almighty 
will assist you in all your concerns, we rest your humble peti- 
tioners." 

2 



10 



Mr. Edward Jackson, 
Capt. Thomas Prentice, 
John Fuller, Sen'r, 
John Kenrick, Sen'r, 
Isaac Williams, 
John Ward, 
Joseph Miller, 
Thomas Prentice, Jr., 
John Kenrick, Jr., 
John Mason, 
William Robinson, 
Thomas Greenwood, 
John Parker, (South,) 
Humphrey Osland, 
Joseph Bartlett, 
Isaac Bacon, 
Jacob Bacon, 
Samuel Trusdale, 
Simon Onge, 
Jonathan Fuller, 
John Parker, (East,} 
Job Hyde, 
Widow Jackson, 
Edward Jackson, Jr. 
Daniel Ray, 
Thomas Prentice, Jr., 



(52 in 



Jonathan Hyde, Sen'r. 
Thomas Park, Sen'r, 
James Trowbridge, 
Noah Wiswall, 
Thomas Hammond, 
Jonathan Hyde, Jr., 
James Prentice, Sen'r, 
David Meade, 
Vincent Druce, 
John Hyde, 
Ebenczer Wiswall, 
Elijah Kenrick, 
Sebas Jackson, 
Samuel Hyde, Jr. 
Neal McDaniel, 
John Fuller, Jr. 
Joshua Fuller, 
John Alexander, 
John Prentice, 
Nathaniel Hammond, 
Abraham Jackson, 
Stephen Cooke, 
Richard Park, 
Joseph Fuller, 
Isaac Beach, 
Peter Stanchet, 
all.) 



Freemen in the Village who did not sign this petition. 



Rev. Nehemiah Hobart, 
Elder Thomas Wiswall, 
Deacon Samuel Hyde, 
Daniel Bacon, 
John Spring, 
Daniel Mackay, 
James Prentice, Jr., 



John Woodward, 
Henry Seger, 
Thomas Park, Jr. 
John Park, 
John Clark, 
Samuel Hyde, Jr, 



11 

Six of the first settlers had deceased, viz. : 

John Jackson, Sen'r, Rev. John Eliot, 

Richard Park, Sen'r. John Jackson, Jr. 

Thomas Hammond, Sen'r, Vincent Druce, Sen'r. 

The petition was presented to the Com't at the first session, 
1678, and committed, and a hearing of the parties was ordered 
on the first Tuesday of October, 1678, (2d session,) and all 
parties to have timely notice. Cambridge presented a remon- 
strance to the petition, dated 23d October, 1678, signed by their 
selectmen, containing upwards of fifteen pages. Portions of it 
are severe and eccentric, as may be seen by the following ex- 
tracts. 

" The petitioners say, ' they plead only for their freedom, 
being content with their own proprieties ; ' We answer, that 
the inhabitants of Cambridge, now dwelling on the north side 
of Charles river, have well-nigh 3000 acres of land, that is laid 
out into lots, some 10, 20, or 40 acres, more or less, that they 
are at this time seized of, and by them kept for herbage, tim- 
ber, wood and planting lands, so they shall have occasion to 
use the same, which is by the petitioners, included within that 
line of division between the town and them, and therefore they 
do not say words of truth when they say they are content with 
their own proprieties." * * * * # 

" Those of the petitioners who proceeded from Cambridge, 
who knowing the straightness and want of accommodations to 
be had among their brethren there, and the lands on that side 
of the water, being then of small value, proved to themselves 
large and comfortable accommodations for a small matter. * 

" They must and will own, that God hath greatly blessed 
them ; that whereas we on the Town side, that of XIOOO that 
we or our parents brought to this place, and laid out in the' 
Town for the purchasing, at dear rates, which we now enjoy, 
cannot divest us ; they may speak just contrary, or in propor- 
tion. We would, if need, now instance some whose parents 
lived and died here, who when they came to this town had no 
estate, and some were helped by the charity of the church and 



12 

others yet living there, well know they may say with good Ja- 
cob, 'over this Jordan came I with this stall';' and so may they 
say, over this river went I with this spade plough, or other 
tool, and now through God's blessing, am greatly increased ; 
yet here we would not be understood to include every particu- 
lar person, for we acknowledge that Mr. [Edward] Jackson 
brought a good estate to the Town, as some others did, and 
hath not been wanting to the ministry or any good work 
among us, and therefore we would ^not reflect upon him in 
the least. 

" There are another sort of persons, that did not proceed from 
the Town, but came from other towns, who, though they knew 
the distance of the place from the public meeting-house, the 
dependency thereof on Cambridge which they now call a great 
charge and burden, yet they then did choose, and we are as- 
sured will own, generally at least, that they have increased their 
estates, far beyond which those of the town have, or are capa- 
ble to do. "We might instance also, in the inventories of some 
of them, whose purchase at the first, cost them a very small 
matter, and their stock and household stuff we judge to be 
proportionable, and yet when they deceased, an inventory 
amounting to more than XllOO is given in to the Court, (Wit- 
ness John Jackson's Inventory, X1230, Richard Farks's £972, 
and Old Thomas Hammond's X1139,) and others that are yet 
living, we suppose, have advanced in some measure suitable ; 
they knew beforehand, the distance of their new dwellings from 
Cambridge, yet this did not obstruct them, in their settlements 
there, but before they were well warm in their nests, they must 
divide the Town. * * * * * * 

" When the Court being tired out with their eager pursuits, 
and more private fav^mings, and insinuations, granted them 
committee upon committee to hear and examine the ground 
of their so great complaints, at last, all issued in a declaration 
of the unreasonableness of their desire, with reference to the 
Town, as may appear by the return of the committee, made 
to the General Court, Oct. 14, 1657 : yet have they rested not. 
In the year 1661, they petitioned the Court, and then obtained 
freedom from the rates to the Ministry, for all lands and estates 



13 



more than 4 miles from Cambridge meeting-house, this being 
all they then desired." ***** 

" But all this did not satisfy them ; the very next year they 
petitioned the Court again, and another committee was appoint- 
ed to come upon the place, and determine the dividing line 
between the town and them ; the result thereof was such, that 
whereas their gi-ant was for all the lands that were above 4 
miles from the Town, they now obtain the stakeing of a line, 
that generally is (by exact measure) tried and proved to be very 
little above three miles from Cambridge meeting-house. * * 

"All this notwithstanding, those long breathed petitioners 
finding that they had such good success, that they could never 
cast their lines into the sea, but something was catched, they 
resolved to bait their hook again. * * * * 

" In 1672, they petitioned the Court for the same thing, and 
in the same words, that now they do, viz., that they may be a 
township of themselves, distinct from Cambridge ; and then 
the Court grant them farther liberty than before, viz., to choose 
their own Constable and three Selectmen, among themselves, 
to order the prudential affairs of the inhabitants there, only 
continuing a part of Cambridge, in paying Country and 
County rates, as also Town rates, so far as refers to the Gram- 
mar school. Bridge, and popular charges, they to pay still their 
proportion with the Town ; and this Court declares once more 
to be an issue to the controversy between Cambridge and them. 
**** * ***** 

" And did not this honored Court, as well as we, conclude 
that the petitioners, having exercised the patience of the Court 
by their so petitioning, as well as giving trouble to the town, 
by causing them to dance after their pipes, from time to time, 
for 24 years, as will appear by the Court's records, in which 
time they have petitioned the Court near, if not altogether ten 
times, putting the Town to great charges ; yet notwithstanding 
all this, we are summoned now again, to appear before this 
honored Court to answer their petition, exhibited for the very 
same thing." ******* 

" The General Court having 45 years since (or more,) made 
a grant of the lands (petitioned for) to Cambridge Town 
the Court's grant being made to ease the Town and 



14 

persons, as his Majesty's royal charter is to this honored assem- 
bly, and the whole Colony, we have confidence that such is 
their wisdom and integrity, that they will not deem it to be in 
their power to take away from us, or any other Town, or per- 
son, any part of what they have had so orderly granted and 
confirmed to them. Had we no grant upon record, (which is 
indubitably clear that we have,) yet by the law of possession, 
it is ours, and may not, without violation of the law, and faith 
of the Honored Court, be taken from us." * * * 

" Cambridge is the womb, out of which the petitioners have 
sprung, and therefore, ought in the first place to be provided 
for, and the question in equity ought to be, not what do the 
petitioners crave, and might be convenient for them ? but what 
may Cambridge spare ? Now, that Cambridge cannot spare 
what they desire, we shall prove : 

" From the situation of our town, being planted on a neck of 
land, hem'd about by neighboring towns; Water Town coming 
on the one side, within half a mile of our meeting-house, and 
Charlestown as near on the other side, so that our bounds is 
not much above a mile in breadth for near three miles together ; 
and on the south side of the river, the petitioners have gained 
their line, to come very near within ihree miles of our meeting- 
house. 

" The most considerable part of the best and most accommo- 
dable of those near lands to our Town, are belonging to Mr. 
Pelham and others that live not in the town, so that the far 
greater number of those that live in the town, are put to hire 
grass for their cattle to feed upon, in the summer time, which 
costs them at least 12s., some 15s. a head in money, for one 
cow the summer feed ; and corn land, they have not sufficient to 
find the Town with bread. 

" Cambridge is not a Town of trade or merchandize, as the 
sea port towns be, but what they do, must be in a way of hus- 
bandry, altho' never so hard terms, they having no other way 
of supply. ********* 

" Finally, we humbly entreat, that this, our defence, may be 
entered in the Court's Register, there to remain for the vindica- 
tion of our just rights, in perpetuum and memoriam, praying 
that the God of wisdom and truth may direct and guide this 



15 



Hon'd Court in their issuing of this, and all other, their more 
weighty concerns, we subscribe ourselves your humble and du- 
tiful servants and supplicants, 

JOHN COOPER, "I 

WILLIAM MANNING, I 

JOHN STONE, I v 7 f 

WALTER HASTINGS, ^^eiectmen. 

FRANCIS MOORE, | 

NATHANIEL SPARHAWK, J 

Cambridge, 23, 8, 1678. 

The result was, that the court granted the prayer of the pe- 
tition, and Cambridge Village was set off from Cambridge, 
and made an independent town. The Court ordered that the 
freeholders of the Village should be duly notified to meet on 
the 27th day of August, 1679, and choose Selectmen and other 
town officers to manage the municipal affairs of the Village as 
other towns, according to law. 

The freeholders were duly notified, and the first Toivn meeting, 
was held on that day, " by virtue of an order of the General 
Court^'' and so recorded by the Town Clerk, at which meeting, 
Capt. Thomas Prentice, John Ward, and James Trowbridge, 
were chosen Selectmen, and Thomas Greenwood Constable, 
and the Town was called New Cambridge. 

The first Town records were commenced on that day, and 
aU the machinery of a New England Town, was put in motion 
for the first time in the Village by an " order of the General 
Court." 

Previous to this time, their Town meetings were held at 
Cambridge, and the town officers were chosen there. On and 
after the 27th day of August, 1679, the freemen of the Village 
held their Town meetings at New Cambridge, and conducted 
the municipal affairs of their town, without any dictation, or 
interference of Cambridge, and according to the will and pleas- 
ure of the majority of its freeholders. 

During their long and severe struggle to obtain the privileges 
of an independent Town, the inhabitants of the Village had 
shown a most determined perseverance, and love of freedom. 



16 

They had petitioned the General Court, time after time, for 23 
years. The parties had met each other repeatedly, by commit- 
tees, and otherwise, and Cambridge had made several offers to 
the Village, by way of compromise, but the inhabitants of the 
Village were determined to accept nothing short of an inde- 
pendent Town. 

There were 65 freemen in the Village, when the new town 
was launched, 52 of whom signed the petition, which severed 
the Village from Cambridge. 

Soon after the removal of the tyrannical Governor Andros, 
the inhabitants of New Cambridge met, on the 20th May, 
1689, and passed the following declarations, viz. : 

" That it is our desire, 

1. " That the Hon. Governor and Deputy Governor, and As- 
sistants, chosen and sworn in the year 1686, and the Deputies 
then chosen by the freemen for that year, do now resume the gov- 
ernment of the Colony, according to Charter privileges. 

2. " That there may be an enlargement of Freemen, that is 
to say, that those persons who are of honest conversation and 
a competent estate, may have their votes in all civil elections. 

3. " That the Court, having thus re-assumed the government, 
then endeavor to confirm our Charter privileges. 

4. " That the Court, thus settled, do not admit of any change 
or alteration of government among us, until it is first signified 
to the several towns for their approbation." 

On the same day, also, the inhabitants made choice of En- 
sign John Ward, as their representative, or deputy, in the 
present session of the General Court. 

The name of New Cambridge was not given by the Gen. 
eral Court, but was assumed by the inhabitants of the Village 
and generally acquiesced in by the public, and recognized by 
the General Court, as their records show. But the inhabitants 
of New Cambridge soon became dissatisfied with this name, 
and they petitioned the General Court, more than once, to give 
the place a name ; whereupon the Court passed the following 
order : 



17 

" Dec. 15, 1691. In answer to the petition of the inhabi- 
tants of Cambridge Village, lying on the south side of Charles 
river, being granted to be a township, praying that a name may 
be given unto the said town, — it is ordered that it be henceforth 
called New Town. " 

This order of the Court, for a name only, has been mistaken 
by historians for an act of incorporation of the town ; whereas 
the petitioners had been in possession of that privilege for 
twelve years. The child was born on the 27th August, 1679, 
but was not duly christened until 15th December, 1691. 

The name stands upon the Court records in two words, one 
syllable each, as it was originally written in 1631. This form 
of writing it, was gradually altered to one word with two sylla- 
bles, but all the Town Clerks of Newton followed the Court's 
order in the spelling of the name, until 1766, when Judge Ful- 
ler was chosen Town Clerk, and held that office for 26 years, 
he always spelt it on the town records, Newton^ — there was no 
vote, — usage, in the town, and in other towns, had prepared the 
way for him to assume the responsibility of making the contrac- 
tion by dropping the iv from the last syllable. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



Dea. John Jackson was the first settler of Cambridge Vil- 
lage who remained and died in it. He brought a good estate 
with him from England. He bought a dwelling house and 
eighteen acres of land of Miles Ives of Watertown in 1639. — 
This Estate was situated on the line which now divides Newton 
from Brighton. He took the Freeman's oath in 1641. Was 
one of the first deacons of the church — gave one acre of land 
for the church and a burying place, on which the first Meeting 
House was erected in 1660, and which is now a part of the 
East Parish Cemetery. He was probably the son of Christo- 
pher Jackson, of London, who died 5th of December, 1633. 
He had, by two wives, five sons and ten daughters, and at the 
time of his decease about 50 grand-children. 

The time when he came into the Village may properly be 
considered as the centennial anniversary of the first settlement 
of Newton. He died Jan. 30th, 1675, leaving an Estate val- 
ued at £1230. His widow, Margaret, died Aug. 28, 1684, 
JEt 60. His son, Edward, was slain by the Indians at Medficld, 
in their attack upon and burning of that town, Feb. 21, 1676. 
His house was near the place where Mr. Smallwood's shop 
now ^rods. The cellar yet remains, and the pear trees now 
standing there, are supposed to have been planted by him. 
Abraham was the only one, among his sons who reared a fam- 
ily. Abraham gave one acre of land adjoining that given by 
his father for the Church and Burying ground, which two acres 
now form the ancient part of the Centre Cemetery. 

Deacon Samuel Hyde was born in 1610. He embarked 
the ship Jonathan, at London, for Boston, in April, 1639, and 
settled in Cambridge Village about 1640. In 1647, he and his 
brother Jonathan bought of Thomas Danforth 40 acres of land. 
In 1652, they bought 200 acres of the administrators of Nathl. 
Sparhawk. They held this land in common until 1662, when 



20 

it was divided. He was one of the first deacons of the church. 
He had by his wife Temperance, Samuel, Joshua, Job, Sarah, 
and Elizabeth. Sarah married Thomas Woolson, of Water- 
town, 1660. Elizabeth, Humphrey Osland, 1667. Samuel 
conveyed to his son-in-law Osland a piece of his land on the 
west side of the Dedham road, in 1678, on which the latter had 
previously built a house, being part of the same land now 
owned by Mr.l Lombard. Samuel died in 1689, ae. 79, and 
his wife Temperance soon after. o ''■ 

His descendents, Samuel of the-fiwt generation, and George 
y^' ' of the sM^, now reside upon and own a part of the same land. 

His son Job married Elizabeth, daughter of John Fuller. 
He and his wife both died in Nov. 1685. His father, Dea. 
Samuel, took and provided for half their children, and John 
Fuller the other half. — (See their wills Vol. 7. and 9.) 

His son Samuel married Hannah Stedman, 1673. His 
house was burnt May 21, 1709, and with the assistance 
of his neighbors raised again in fourteen days. He died 
1725, and his wife in 1727. His house stood on the east side 
of the Dedham road, near where Mr. George Hyde's now 
stands. 

Edward Jackson, Senr., was born in London, 1602, accord- 
'^'1,' ing to his grave-stone. ^ Recent examinations of the parish 
register of White Chapel, where he lived and followed the trade 
of a nail-maker, it appears that he was the son of Christopher 
Jackson, and was baptized 3 Feb., 1604. His first wif^name 
was Frances, by whom he had four sons and four dax^hters. 
There is a tradition in the family, that the youngest son Sebas 
was born on the passage to this country 1642 or '43 : if so, Fran- 
ces the mother, died on the passage, or soon after their arrival 
here. His second marriage, in March 1649, was with Eliza- 
beth, daughter of John Newgate, and widow of Rev. John 
Oliver, H. C. 1645, the first minister of Rumney Marsh, (Chel- 
sea,) by whom he had four daughters and one son. He pur- 
chased land in Cambridge Village, of Samuel Holly, in 1643. 
He took the Freeman's oath in 1645; the year following, he 
purchased a fiirm from Governor Bradstreet, of 500 acres, for 
£140, long known as the Mayhew farm; Bradstreet having 



21 



purchased it of Thomas Mayhew in 1638, with all the build- 
ings thereon, for six cows. This 500 acre farm commenced 
near what is now the division line between Newton and Brigh- 
ton, and extended westward, including what is now Newton- 
ville, and covering the site where Judge Fuller's mansion house 
stood. The site where Gen. Michael Jackson's mansion house 
stood, was near the centre of the Mayhew farm ; and a 
few rods nearer the brook, stood the old dwelling house con- 
veyed with the land in Mayhew's deed to Bradstreet : of course 
it was built previous to 1638, and therefore highly probable 
that it was the first dwelling house built in Newton ; the cellar 
hole, a few rods from the brook, is still visible. 

In the laying out of the highway in 1708, which passed by 
the old house, the description is, " crossing the brook near 
where the old house stood." The house which was erected 
before 1638, was gone before 1708 ; it had stood about the 
allotted space of three score and ten. It was probably the 
firstresidence of Edward Jackson, Senr., in Cambridge Village, 
from his first coming in 1642 or '3, until his marriage in 1649, 
and perhaps for many more years. At his death in 1681, his 
then dwelling house stood about three quarters of a mile east 
of the old house, and is described as a spacious mansion with 
a hall, designed, no doubt, for religious meetings. 

He was chosen one of the Deputies (Reps.) from Cambridge 
to the General Court, in 1647, and continued to be elected to 
that office annually, or semi-annually, for seventeen years in 
all, and was otherwise much engaged in public life. — One of 
the selectmen of Cambridge in 1665 ; chairman of a commit- 
tee with Edward Oakes and Lieut. Gov. Danforth, appointed 
by the town of Cambridge, in 1653, to lay out all necessary 
highways in Cambridge, on the south side of Charles River ; 
chairman of a committee with his brother John Jackson, Rich- 
ard Park, and Samuel Hyde, to lay out and settle highways 
as need shall require in Cambridge Village ; one of the com- 
missioners to end small causes in Cambridge, several years. 

He was constantly present with the Rev. John Eliot at 
his lectures to the Indians at Nonantum, to take notes of the 
questions of the Indians, and of the answers of Mr. Eliot. 



22 

He was one of the proprietors of Cambridge, and in the divi- 
sion of the common lands in 1662 he had four acres, and in 
1664 he had thirty acres. He was also a large proprietor in 
the Billerica lands, and in the division of 1652 he had 400 acres, 
which, by his will , he gave to Harvard College, together with 
other bequests. 

He was the author and first signer of a petition in 1678, to 
have Cambridge Village set off from Cambridge, and made an 
independent town by itself, which petition was granted in 1679, 
notwithstanding the powerful opposition of Cambridge, which, 
in its^bitter remonstrance, voluntarily bears strong and honora- 
ble testimony of Edward Jackson. 

After saying many hard words about the petitioners, it adds : 
" We would not be understood to include every particular per- 
son, for we acknowledge that Mr. Jackson bro't a good estate 
to the town, as some others did, and hath not been wanting to 
the ministry, or any good work among us, and therefore we 
would not reflect upon him in the least." 

Johnson's History of New England contains a short notice 
of the characters of many of the leading men of his time, 
among whom he classes Edward Jackson, and says, " he could 
not endure to see the truths of Christ trampled under foot by 
the erroneous party." He had thirteen children and upwards 
of sixty grandchildren. 

He died 17 June 1681, ae. 79 years and 5 months. His in- 
ventory contained upwards of 1600 acres of land, and amounted 
to .£2477 19s. Od. It also included two men-servants, ap- 
praised at £5 each. (He was probably the first slave-holder in 
Newton !) His wife outlived him twenty-eight years, and died 
30 Sept. 1709, «. 92. 

He was a land surveyor, and not long before his death sur- 
veyed his own lands, and made a division of them to his chil- 
dren, putting up metes and bounds. 

It is a remarkable fact in relation to these two brothers, John 
and Edward Jackson, that while Edward had but three sons, 
and John five, there are multitudes of Edward's posterity who 
bear his name, and not more than three or four of John's, 
Forty-four of Edward's descendants went into the revolutionary 



army from Newton, and not one of John's. But now there 
are but three families in the town, of his descendants that bear 
his name. 

John Fuller was born in 1611, and settled in Cambridge 
Village in 1644. In Dec. 1658, he purchased of Joseph Cooke 
750 acres of Land for X160, bounded north and west by 
Charles River, south by Samuel Shepard, and east by Thomas 
Park. His house stood on the south side of the road, on the 
west side of the brook, and within a few rods of both road and 
brook. By subsequent purchase he increased his farm to 1000 
acres. Chesse-cake Brook ran through it. He had six sons and 
two daughters. His son Isaac died before him. He divided 
his farm between the other five sons, viz : John, Jonathan, 
Joseph, Jeremiah, and Joshua. This tract of land was long 
known as the " Fuller Farm," or " Fuller's Corner." He was a 
malster : was a selectman from 1684 to 1694. He died in 1698-9, 
ae. 87 : his wife Elizabeth died 1700. They left five sons, two 
daughters, and forty-five grandchildren. The inventory of his 
property amounted to .£534 5s. Od. His will provides that 
none of the land bequeathed to his sons should be sold to 
strangers, until first offered to the nearest relation. Twenty-two 
of his descendants went into the revolutionary army from 
Newton. — (See his will in the Probate office, 9th vol.) 

The ages of his five sons were as follows : John 75, Jona- 
than 74, Joseph 88, Jeremiah 85, Joshua 98. Joshua was mar- 
ried a second time when 88 years old to Mary Dana of Cam- 
bridge, in 1742, who was in her 75th year. 

Edward Jackson and John Fuller came into the Village 
about the same time, probably knew each other in England, 
were the largest land-owners in the Village, divided their lands 
among their children in their life-time, confirming the division 
by their wills, and have had a far greater number of descend- 
ents than any of the other early settlers of the town. 

John Parker was one of the earliest ettlers of Hingham. 
He probably came over in the ship James, of London, in 1635. 
He had land granted to him there in 1636, and 1640. He was 
a carpenter. He removed from Hingham, and bought a tract 
of land in the easterly part of Cambridge Village, in March, 



24 

3650, adjoining the lands of John Ward and Vincent Druce. 
His wife's name was Joanna, by whom he had five sons and 
five daughters. He died in 1686, aged 71. His estate was 
appraised by Capt. Isaac Williams and John Spring, and 
amounted to ^412 2s. Od. His will is dated 7th Sept., 1686, 
and recorded in the Suffolk Registry, 11th vol. 

This Parker's homestead passed into the hands of the Hon. 
Ebenezer Stone, soon after Parker's death, and is now owned by 
Mr. John Kingsbury. 

The Newton Parkers have descended from two distinct fami- 
lies, viz., from John and Joanna, of Hingham, and from Sam- 
uel and Sarah, of Dedham. Nathaniel was a prominent man 
of Newton, being the son of Samuel and Sarah, born in Ded- 
ham, 26th March, 1670. At the time of the erection of the 
third meeting-house, he owned the land on which it was 
placed, the contents of which was li acres and 20 rods, which 
he sold for £15, and conveyed it to the Selectmen of Newton, 
in August, 1716. Middlesex Deeds, 18, 129. 

Richard Park was a proprietor in Cambridge, 1636, and of 
Cambridge Farms, (Lexington,) 1642. In 1647 there was a 
division of lands, and he had eleven acres, abutting on Mr. 
Edward Jackson's land, east and west, and the highway to 
Dedham was laid out through it ; his dwelling-house was prob- 
ably erected on this lot ; it stood within a few feet of the spot 
now occupied by the Eliot church. This ancient house was 
pulled down about 1800. This spot was near the four mile 
line, or the division line between Cambridge and Cambridge 
Village. During the contest between the Village and Cam- 
bridge, to be set off, he sent a petition to the Court, praying to 
retain his connection with Cambridge church. 

He owned a large tract of land in the Village, bounded west 
by the Fuller farm, north by Charles River, east by the Dum- 
mer farm, and cast and south by the May hew farm, (Edward 
Jackson's,) containing about 600 acres. By his will, dated 
12, 5, 1665, he bequeaths to his only son, Thomas, this tract of 
land, with the houses thereon, after the decease of his wife, 
Sarah. This only son, Thomas, married Abigail Dix of Water- 
town, 1653, and had five sons and four daughters, among whom 
this tract of land was divided in 1694, (Thomas having de- 



25 



ceased,) and the contents then were about 800 acres, Thomas 
having added, by purchase, about 200 acres, and built a corn- 
mill upon Charles River, near where the Bemis Factory now is. 

In 1657, Richard Park was one of a committee with Mr. 
Edward Jackson, John Jackson, and Samuel Hyde, to lay out 
and settle highways in Cambridge Village. In 1663, he was re- 
leased from training, and therefore past 60 years of age. He 
died in 1665, leaving a will, witnessed by Elder Wiswall and 
Hugh Mason, in which he names his wife, Sarah, two daugh- 
ters, and only son, Tiiomas. One of his daughters married 
Francis Whittemore, of Cambridge. His inventory, dated Aug. 
19, 1665, amounted to ,£872. His widow, Sarah, was living at 
Duxbury, in 1668. 

Henry Parke, of London, merchant, son and heir of Edward 
Parke, of London, merchant, deceased, conveyed land in Cam- 
bridge to John Stedman, in 1650. Edward may liavc been the 
ancestor of the first settlers of that name in New England, viz., 
of Dea. William of Roxbury, Richard of Cambridge Village, 
Samuel of Mystic, and Thomas of Stoninsfton. (t ■- " 

Jonathan Hyde was born 1626. Purchased 240 acres of 
land in Newton, with his brother Samuel, which they owned in 
common until 1661. In 1656, he bought 80 acres of land, 
which was one-eighth of the tract recovered by Cambridge of 
Dedham, in a law-suit, He settled upon the land, and increased 
it by subsequent purchases, to several hundred acres. His 
house was about sixty rods north of the centre meeting-house. 
He bought and sold much land in the town. He had 23 chil- 
dren, — 15 by Mary French, daughter of William French of 
Billerica, and 8 by Mary Rediat, daughter of John Rediat of 
Marlborough, with whom he made a marriage covenant in 
1673, in which it was stipulated, that in case he should die 
first, she should have his house, barn, and about 100 acres of 
land. This part of his homestead was bounded by the high- 
way from Watertown to Dedham, 160 rods, and 100 deep, and 
south by the farm of Elder Wiswall, reserving a highway one 
rod wide, next to Wiswall's. This highway ran from the train- 
ing-field by the north bank of Wiswall's Pond, and for the last 
century has been known by the name of Blanden's Lane. 
4 



26 

The front of this lot extended from this lane, northerly, to about 
opposite the road leading to the east part of the town. This 
farm, therefore, was very near the centre of Newton, and in- 
cluded the spot where the centre meeting-house now stands. 
In 1702 he gave to John Kenrick and others. Selectmen of 
Newton and their successors in office " half an acre of his 
homestead," for the use and benefit of the school in the south- 
erly part of the town. It is supposed that he also gave the 
land at the wide part of the Dedham highway, near the centre 
of the town, for a training-field, but no record of this gift has 
yet been found. He was Selectman in 1691, and in his deeds 
was styled " Sargeant." A few years before his decease, he 
settled his own estate, by deeds of gift to eleven of his child- 
ren, conveying about 400 acres, with several dwelling-houses 
thereon. The other 12 children had probably died before him, 
or had been otherwise provided for. 

His first wife died May 27, 1672, aged 39 ; his second Sept. 
5, 1708. He died Oct. 5, 1711, aged 85, leaving a multitude of 
grandchildren. 

Capt. Thomas Prentice was born in England in 1621. He 
was in this country Nov. 22, 1649, as shown by the recorded 
birth of his children, Thomas and Elizabeth, (twins.) 

He was chosen lieutenant of the company of horse in the 
lower Middlesex regiment, in 1656, and captain in 1662. In 
1661, he purchased 300 acres of land in the Pequod country. 
This tract was in Stonington, Connecticut. 230 acres of this 
3^-v^ f4'-, land was appraised in his inventory at X109, in 1685. His 
"^ grandson, Samuel, married Esther Hammond, and settled upon 

this land in 1710. In 1663 he purchased of Elder Frost of 
Cambridge, 85 acres of land in the easterly part of Cambridge 
Village, adjoining John Ward's land. This was his homestead 
for about 50 years. In 1705, he conveyed it by deed of gift to 
his grandson, Capt. Thomas Prentice. His house was on the 
spot where the Harback House now stands. He was one of the 
Cambridge proprietors, and in the division of the common 
lands he had a dividend of 150 acres in Billerica, in 1652, and 
nine acres in Cambridge Village, in 1664. 

He was greatly distinguished for his bravery and heroism in 



27 



Phillip's War. This war broke out in 1675. On the 26th of 
June, a company of infantry, under Capt. Henchman, from 
Boston, and a company of horse under Capt. Prentice, from 
Cambridge Village and adjoining towns, (20 from the Village 
and 21 from Dedham,) marched for Mount Hope. In their first 
conflict with the Indians, in Swanzey, William Hammond was 
killed, and Corporal Belcher had his horse shot under him, and 
was himself wounded ; and on the first of July they had an- 
other encounter with the Indians, on a plain near Rehoboth, 
four or five of whom were slain, among them, Thebe, a sachem 
of Mount Hope, and another was one of Philip's chiefs. In 
this affair, John Druce, son of Vincent, (one of the first set- 
tlers, of the Village^was mortally wounded. He was brought 
home, and died at his own house next day. 

On the 10th of December, five companies of infantry, and 
Capt. Prentice's troop of horse, marched from Massachusetts, 
and from Plymouth Colony, to Narraghansett. On the 16th, 
Capt. Prentice received advice that the Indians had burned 
Jeremiah Ball's house, and killed 18 men, women, and chil- 
dren. He marched immediately in pursuit, killed ten of the 
Indians, captured 55, and burned 150 wigwams. " This ex- 
ploit, (says the historian of that day,) was performed by Cap- 
tain Prentice, of the Horse." 

On the 21st of January, 1676, Capt. Prentice's troop being 
in advance of the infantry, met with a party of Indians, cap- 
tured two, and killed nine of them. On the 18th of April follow- 
ing, the Indians made a vigorous attack on Sudbury. Captains 
Wadsworth and Brocklebank fought bravely in defence, but 
were overpowered, and 18 of their men took refuge in a mill. 
When notice of this attack reached Capt. Prentice, he started 
immediately for Sudbury, with but few of his company, and 
entered that town with but six beside himself. The remnant 
of Capt Wadsworth's men defended the mill bravely, until 
night, when they were relieved, and the Indians put to flight. 
In short, all accounts agree that Capt. Prentice rendered most 
invaluable services throughout the war. He was constantly 
on the ah'rt, and i)y his bold and rapid marches, he j)ut the en- 
emy to the sword or flight, and made his name a terror to all 



28 

the hostile Indians. After Phillip was slain, in July, 1676, 
terms of peace were offered to all Indians who would come in 
and surrendei". A Nipnut sachem, called John, with a number 
of his men, embraced this offer, and by order of the General 
Court were given in charge to Capt. Prentice, who kept them 
at his house in Cambridge Village. 

Prentice had been in command of this company fifteen years 
when Phillip's war broke out, and was then 55 years old. He 
was hardy, athletic, and robust, and capEible of enduring great 
fatigue. He continued to ride on horseback to the end of his 
long life, his death being occasioned by a fall from his horse. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the Indian converts maintained 
unshaken, their fidelity to the English, such was the prejudice 
against, and fear of them, that the General Court on the break- 
ing out of Phillip's war ordered them to be removed to Deer 
Island, in Boston harbor, and Capt. Prentice, with his troopers, 
were charged with the execution of this order. Their number, 
including men, women and children, was about 200. 

Although Prentice was a terrible enemy to the hostile In- 
dians, and greatly feared by them, he was a warm friend and 
counsellor, and had the full confidence of the friendly tribes. 

For many years. Gen. Gookin was, by the appointment of 
the General Court, the magistrate for managing, advising, and 
watching over, the friendly Indians. 

After his death, the Indians residing at Natick, Punkapoag, 
"Wamessik, Hassenamaskok, and Kecumuchoag, all united in 
a petition to the General Court, in 1691, that Capt. Prentice 
might be appointed their ruler. 

Prentice was appointed one of a committee to proceed to 
Quinsigamond, (Worcester,) with a view of forming a settle- 
ment there. He was one of the owners of the first 58 houses 
built there, and had a gi-ant of 50 acres of land for his public 
services. 

He was a Representative to the General Court in 1672, '73, 
and '74. In 1679 he was appointed chairman of a committee 
for re-building the town of Lancaster, which was destroyed by 
the Indians, during Phillip's war. 

Capt. Prentice and his wife, Grace, had four sons and four 



29 



daughters. Two of his sons died in childhood. The other two 
were married. Thomas, the oldest had three sons, and died in 
1685, and the old Captain had the bringing up of the three 
grandsons, to whom he gave a good education, an^d all his es- 
tate. Thomas, the oldest grandson, was a leading man in 
Newton, a Captain of infantry, and died in 1730. 

The second grandson, John, married a daughter of Edward 
Jackson, and died at the age of 35, leaving no children. 

The third grandson, Samuel, married Esther, daughter of 
Nathaniel Hammond, and settled in Stonington, Connecticut. 
Numerous descendents have proceeded from this marriage. 

Capt. Prentice s wife, Grace, died Oct. 9, 1692. He died 
July 6, 1710, aged 89, and was buried under arms, by the com- 
pany of troop, on the 8th of July. He settled his own estate, 
by deeds of gift to his grandchildren. He was undoubtedly 
one of the most substantial men of his age, and had the entire 
confidence of his associates in the settlement of Cambridge 
Village. Edward Jackson's will, made in 1681, has testimony 
to this eflect, as follows : 

" I bequeath to my honored friend, Capt. Thomas Prentice, 

one diamond ring." 

Thomas Hammond was one of the earliest settlers of Hind- 
is 

ham, took the freeman's oath there 9th March, 1637, had land 
granted to him there in 1636, and in 1637, his children were 
born and baptized in Hingham. He sold his lands in Hing- 
ham in 1652, and his dwelling-house in 1656. In 1650, he and 
Vincent Druce bought of Nicholas Hodgden land in Cam- 
bridge Village, and in 1658 they bought of Thomas Brattle and 
others 600 acres, partly in Cambridge Village and partly in 
Muddy River. They held this land in common, until 1664, 
when a division was made between them. The dividing line 
was 100 rods in length, running over the great hill. The pond 
was in Hammond's part, and has been called by his name ever 
since. He also bought, in 1656, 330 acres, of Esther Sparhawk, 
His wife's name was Elizabeth. They had two sons and tv/o 
daughters. He died 30th September, 1675, leaving a will writ- 
Icn by his own hand, but not pigned, in which he calls himself 
aged — , gives his wife his dvi^eUing-house, &c. during her life 



30 



and divides his lands among his children. His inventory was 
taken by Elder Wiswall and John Spring, and amounted to 
.£1139 16s. 2d. He had four children, and upwards of twenty 
grandchildren. 

Vincent Druce was one of the earliest settlers of Hingham, 
being there in 1636. He had land granted him there in 1630 
and 1637. His son John was baptized in Hingham, in April, 
1041. 

In 1650, Nicholas Hodgden, of Boston, (now Brookline,) 
conveyed to Thomas Hammond and Vincent Druce of Cam- 
bridge, a tract of land in the easterly part of Cambridge Vil- 
lage, adjoining John Parker's land, which land was originally 
granted by the town of Cambridge to Robert Bradish. 

The highway from Cambridge Village to Muddy River, 
(Brookline,) was laid out through these lands in 1658. John 
Ward conveyed to Druce 130 acres of land, bounded east by 
the Roxbury line, and north by Muddy River line. His dwelling- 
house was near the spot now occupied by the school-house of 
the East District. He had two sons, Vincent and John. John 
was a soldier in Captain Prentice's troop of horse, and was 
killed in the war with King Phillip, at Mount Hope, in 1675, 
aged 34, and was probably the first victim that fell in that war, 
from Cambridge Village. Vincent died January 1678, leaving 
a will, recorded on Suffolk Records, Vol. 6. 

Ensign John Ward was born in England, in 1626. He 
was the oldest son of William Ward, who with his second 
wife, Elizabeth, and other children, came from Yorkshire or 
Derbyshire, and settled in Sudbury, where he had lands as- 
signed to him in 1640. 

John married Hannah, the daughter of Edward Jackson, 
about 1650 ; was selectman nine years, from 1679, and a repre- 
sentative eight years, being the first ever sent from Cambridge 
Village. The first year, 1679, he served 54 days, and the Vil- 
lage voted " Is. 6d. per day, for his serving." His dwelling-house 
was constructed for a garrison-house, about 1001, and used as 
such during King Phillip's war. This ancient building stood 
where Mr. Ephraim Ward's (a desccndent from John) now 
stands, and was demolished in 1821. This house, and 4''j acres 



31 



of land, was conveyed to John and Hannah, by his father-in- 
law, Edward Jackson, by deed, dated March 10, 16G1, wit- 
nessed by John Jackson and John Spring. He owned about 
500 acres of land, which he distributed among his sons by deeds 
of gift, in 1701. He was, by trade, a turner. He had eight 
sons and five daughters. He made a will, in 1707, and died 
July 1st, 1708, aged 82. His wife, Hannah, died April 24th, 
1704, aged 73. His will is recorded in the 11th volume of the 
Middlesex Probate Records. 

There were twelve of this name among the first settlers of 
New England. 

James Prentice, and Thomas Prentice Jr., both of Cam- 
bridge, purchased of Thomas Danforth, 400 acres of land, in 
Cambridge, in March, 1650 ; and in 1657 they purchased 100 
acres, of Danforth, " being the farm that James Prentice now 
dwells on, bounded N. E. by land of John Jackson," part of 
which is now the ahcient burial-place. This Prentice farm was 
on the easterly side of the Dedham road, and extended from 
the burial-place, southwesterly, beyond the house now occu- 
pied by Marshall S. Rice, the present Town Clerk. James, 
and Thomas, Jr., or 2d, were probably brothers, and doubtless 
came into Cambridge Village the same year that Capt. Thomas 
Prentice did. 

The ancient Prentice house was demolished in 1800 ; it stood 
a few rods south-east of the house now occupied by Joshua 
Loring. 

James Prentice married Susanna, the daughter of Capt. 
Edward Johnson, of Woburn, and had one son James and five 
daughters. Capt. Johnson, by his will, dated 1672, gives his 
grandson, James Prentice, £15, and also makes a small bequest 
to Susanna, and Hannah Prentice, the daughters of his son-in- 
law, James Prentice. 

He was Selectman in 1694. He died 7th March, 1710, aged 
81. His son James, and his widow Susanna, administered on 
his estate, which amounted to X286 14s. James sold out his 
share in his father's estate, for X60, in 1711, to his five sisters, 
" all single women," and probably left the town. 

Thointas Prentice, 2d, purchased of Thomas Danforth, 400 



32 

acres of land, in Cambridge, in March, 1650, and 100 acres in 
1657. Both parcels were conveyed to James Prentice, and 
Thomas Prentice, Jr., the 100 acres being described as " the 
farm that James Prentice now dwells on." He married 'Re- 
becca, daughter of Edward Jackson, Sen'r, by his first wife, 
who was born in England, about 1632, and had six sons and 
one daughter. There is no record of the birth, marriages, or 
deaths, of the parents or children of this family. Edward 
Jackson, by his will, gave him 100 acres of land, called " Bald 
Pate Meadow," and several other tracts of land, and to his wife, 
Rebecca, a gold ring, with this motto, " Memento 31orex.''^ 

When he came into the Village, he was called Thomas, Jr. ; 
when Capt. Thomas Prentice's son Thomas was grown up, he 
was called Thomas, 2d ; when his own son Thomas was grown 
up, he was called Thomas, while the Captain was called, and 
widely known, by his military title. Edward Jackson, by his 
will, makes bequests to both these Prentices, in 1681 ; the one 
he styles Thomas Prentice, and the other Capt. Thomas Pren- 
tice. In the latter part of his life, he was called Thomas, Sen'r. 

In 1706, he conveyed land to his grandsons, Thomas and 
Samuel, and in 1714, he conveyed land to his sons Thomas and 
John, in which conveyance he names his son Edward. There 
is an affidavit of his, signed Thomas Prentice, Sen'r, dated 
1713, and recorded with the deeds, stating that " 60 years ago 
he held one end of a chain to lay out a highway over Weedy 
Hill, in Cambridge Village." Supposing him to be 21 years 
old, then, would make his birth in 1632. He lived to a great 
age, but the time of his death is unknown. 

TuoMAS WiswALL was a prominent man among the first set- 
tlers of Dorchester. He came to this country about 1637. He 
^*' was Selectman in Dorchester in 1644, and *38, and highway 
surveyor in Cambridge Village, 1656, having removed into the 
Village in 1654. He was one of the signers of a petition for 
the support of a free school in Dorchester, in 1641, took the 
Freeman's Oath in 1654, and was one of the petitioners to the 
General Court for having the inhabitants of Cambridge Village 
released from paying taxes to Cambridge church. In 1657, he 
and his wife conveyed to his son Enoch of Dorchester, his 



33 

homestead in Dorchester, which formerly belonged to Mr. 
Maverick. 

In 1664, he was ordained ruling elder of the Cambridge Vil- 
lage church. His homestead in the Village consisted of 300 
acres, including the pond which still bears his name. His 
house was upon its south bank, where that of Luther Paul, 
Esq., now is. He had four sons and three daughters, with up- 
wards of thirty grand-children. 

His last wife was Isabella Farmer, widow, from Ansly, in 
England. He died, intestate, Dec. 6, 1683, aged 80. His in- 
ventory amounted to £340. There is no monument to his 
memory, unless the pond be such. Surely none could be more 
beautiful or enduring. It was Ms, has for two centuries been 
known as, and called " Wiswall's Pond. " May its name never 
be changed. 

His son Noah, married Theodocia, daughter of John Jack- 
son, and had two sons and six daughters. He was slain on 
the Lord's Day, July 6, 1690, in an engagement with the French 
and Indians, at Wheeler's Pond, now Lee, New Hampshire. 
His son Ichabod, became minister of Duxbury. 

John Kenrick was born in England, in 1605, was in Bos- 
ton as early as 1639, and then a member of the church. He 
took the freeman's oath in 1640. He owned a wharf on the 
easterly side of the town dock, since called Tyng's wharf, which 
he sold in 1652. He purchased 250 acres of land, in the south- 
erly part of Cambridge Village, in 1658. His house was near 
the bridge across Charles River, which has been called Kenrick 
Bridge, from that day to this. His first wife, Anna, died Nov. 
1656. He died Aug. 29, 1686, aged 82. His second wife, Ju- 
dith, died at Roxbury, Aug. 23, 1687. He had two sons, John 
and Elijah, and one daughter, Hannah, who married Jonathan 
Metcalf, of Dedham. John had nine daughters and two sons, 
and Elijah three daughters and three sons. 

Capt. Isaac Williams was the second son of Robert Wil- 
liams of Roxbury, who came from Norwich in England, the 
common ancestor of many distinguished men, who have hon- 
ored the country of their birth. Isaac was born in Roxbury, 
Sept. 1, 1638. He married Martha, daughter of Dea. William 
5 



34 

Park, of Roxbury, about 1661, and settled in the west part of 
the Village. His second wife was Judith Cooper. He owned 
600 acres of land, adjoining John Fuller's farm on the wesrt pcxJ^~ 
Thomas Park, John Fuller, and Isaac Williams, were the first, 
and probably at that time, the only settlers of West Newton. 
Williams' house was about thirty rods north-easterly of the 
West Parish meeting-house, near the brook, and on land now 
owned by Mrs. Whitwell. He was a weaver by trade, and 
represented the town in the General Court six years. A Select- 
man three years. His farm was divided among his three sons, 
250 acres to Isaac, 100 to Eleazer, and to Ephraim 150, and 
the mansion house. This land was granted by the town of 
Cambridge to Samuel Shepard, in 1640. In 1652, Robert Har- 
rington, Esq., obtained judgment against the estate of Samuel 
Shepard, and this tract was appraised at £150, to satisfy the 
execution. Dea. William Park, of Roxbury, the father of 
Isaac Wilhams' first wife, paid the execution, and took this 
tract of land for his son-in-law. 

Capt. WiUiams died Feb. 11, 170T, aged^69. He had twelve 
children, and upwards of fifty grandchildren. 

His son William, graduated at Harvard College in 1683, and 
became minister of Hatfield. 

His son Ephraim, married Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham 
Jackson, and his son Ephraim was the founder of Williams 
College. 

Abraham Williams was not related to Capt. Isaac. He 
came from Watertown, where he took the freeman's oath in 
1652. He purchased a dwelling-house and twelve acres of 
land of John Callon in August, 1654. In 1662 he purchased 
of WiUiam Clemens a dwelling-house and six acres of land, in 
what is now called Newton Corner, very near the Watertown 
line. 

He married Joanna, sister of John Ward, about 1660, by 
whom he had two sons and two daughters, and perhaps others, 
two of which were born in Cambridge Village. 

He sold his place to Gregory Cook, and removed to Marl- 
boro' in 1668, near Belchar's Pond. He was a colonel in the 
militia, and represented Marlboro' in the General Court. He 



.35 



kept a public house in that town, which was long known by 
the name of the " Williams Tavern," where he died Dec. 29, 
1712, aged 84. His widow Joanna died Dec. 8. 1718, aged 90. 
His will was dated Dec. 18, 1711. 

James Trowbridge was born in Dorchester, and baptized 
there in 1638. His father was Thomas Trowbridge, one of the 
early settlers of Dorchester, a merchant, and was engaged in 
the Barbadoes trade : he came from Taunton, Eng., where his 
father founded a large charity for poor widows, which is still 
administered for their benefit. Thomas went home to Taunton 
in 1644, leaving his three sons in charge of Sergeant Jeffries of 
Dorchester, who removed with those sons to New Haven, about 
1638. Thomas, the father, died in Taunton, Eng., about 1670. 

James returned from New Haven to Dorchester, about 1656, 
where he married Margaret, the daughter Major Humphrey 
Atherton, 30 Dec, 1659, and had three children in Dorchester, 
and removed to Cambridge Village : his wife Margaret was 
dismissed from the church in Dorchester to form a church at 
Cambridge Village, in 1664. After the death of John Jackson 
he became deacon of the church. He was one of the first board 
of Selectmen formed in the Village, in August, 1679, and con- 
tinued in that office nine years. 

In 1675 he purchased of Deputy Governor Danforth, eighty- 
five acres of land with a dwelling-house (standing where Mr. 
Nathan Trowbridge's now does,) and out-buildings thereon, 
which he had occupied for some years ; bounded with the high- 
ways west and south, the narrow lane north, his own land east, 
the dividing line being straight through the swamp. He was 
a Lieutenant, Clerk of the writs in 1691 and '3, and Represen- 
tative in the General Court in 1700 and '3 He had five sons 
and nine daughters, and upwards of eighty grandchildren. His 
first wife died 17 June, 1672 ; second wife was Margaret, the 
daughter of Dea. John Jackson ; she died 16 Sept. 1727, aged 
78. He died 22 May, 1717, aged 81, leaving a will dated 1709. 

Lieut. John Spring was born in England in 1630. He was 
the son of John and Eleiior, and but four years old when he 
arrived in this country. His father settled in Watertown. 
John, jr., married Hannah, daughter of William and Anable 



36 

Barsham, of Watertown, in 1656. His house stood opposite 
the burying place, and near to that now owned and occupied 
by Mr. Colby. He was a Selectman eight years, and a Rep- 
resentative three years. He had one son and eight daughters, 
and a multitude of grandchildren. His wife died Aug. 18, 
1710, aged 73 ; he died May 18, 1717, aged 87. He was evi- 
dently a very active and useful man among the first settlers of 
the Village. On his grave -stone he is styled Lieutenant. In 
1688 he, with Edward Jackson, Abraham Jackson, and James 
Prentice, were a committee on the part of the Village to meet 
Old Cambridge, about the support of the great bridge. 






NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS, 



FOR THE ERECTION OP THE MONUMENT IN NEWTON. 



We, the undersigned, descendents of the first settlers of 
Newton, desh-ous of perpetuating the names and memory of 
those ancient worthies, agree to pay ihe sums herein set 
against our respective names, for the purpose of procuring a 
suitable monument, and placing the same upon the spot where 
they erected the first Newton church. 

Said monument to be of such dimensions and cost, as the 
aggregate amount of our subscriptions may justify ; and to 
have such inscriptions engraved thereon, as a majority of the 
Subscribers may approve. 



^ William Jackson, Newton, 


- 


- $25,00 


^ Francis Jackson, Boston, 


- 


- 25,00 


Edmund Jackson, « - - - 


- 


20,00 


Elisha Wiswall, « 




- 10,00 


Sarah J. Davis, Nevd;on - 




10,00 


Benry Fuller, " 




- 10,00 


^Samuel Hyde, » . . . 




20,00 


Ephraim Jackson, " 




- 12,00 


Henrietta Moor. « - . . 




5,00 


Joseph N. Bacon, " 




- 5,00 


Charles Jackson, Boston, - 




20,00 


/James Jackson, " 




- 5,00 


Henry Lee, «... 




6,00 


Timothy Jackson, Newton, - 


- 


- 5,00 


Almoran Trowbridge, Boston, - 




5,00 


Stephen W. Trowbridge, Newton, 


- 


- 5,00 


John Ward, Newton, 




10,00 



38 



Ephraim Ward, Newton, 3,00 

Reuben Trowbridge, Baltimore, - - - 20,00 

James G. Fuller, Charlestown, Mass., - - - 10,00 

John W. Parker, Roxbury, .... 2,00 

Edward Hyde, Cambridgeport, .... 10,00 

George Hyde, Newton, 10,00 

Hannah Jackson Collins, Newton, ... 5,00 

Edward Jackson Collins, " ... 5,00 

WilliT^m Wiswall, « . . . . 3,00 

WiUiam WiswaU, 2d, " ... 4,00 

Artemas Wiswall, « . . . . 3,00 

Joseph Fuller, Framingham, - - - 2,00 

Nathan Trowbridge, Newton, .... 5,00 

Samuel Trowbridge, « . - . . 5,00 

Otis Trowbridge, « .... 2,00 

Ephraim Parker, « . . . . 2,00 

William F. Ward, " .... 2,00 

Robert Prentice, « . . . . 2,00 

Phebe Jackson, « .... 5,00 

James Hyde, « . . . . 5,00 

Edward Jackson, Park's Bar, California, - - 5,00 

William Kenrick, Newton, .... 3,00 

John Kenrick, " 3,00 

Leonard Hyde, Roxbury, .... 10,00 

Asa Trowbridge, Newton, - . - - 2,00 



Dea. John Jackson 
gave one acre of Land 
for this Burial Place 
and First Church, 
which was erected 
upon this spot in 16tjO. 



Abraham Jackson, 

ton of Dea. John, 

gave one acre, 

which two acres form the 

old part of this Cemetery i 

Died June 29, mo. 



Edward Jackson 

gave 20 acres 

for the Parsonage, in 1660, 

and 31 acres for the 

Ministerial Wood Lot, 

in 1681. 

His widow Elizabeth 

Died Sept., 1709. JE. 92. 




Hev. John Eliot, Jr , 
{[;First Pastor of - 
<ihe First Church 
ordamed Jul; 20, I6ui. 

His wid6w married 

Edmond Quincy 

of Brointrce. Died, 1700. 



Uis only daughter 
ranrried John Bowles, Esq. 

of Roxhury, 
and died May 23, 1687. 



His only son John 

settled in Windsor, 

Connecticut, where he 

died in 1733. 

leaving a Bon John 

I sfudect in Yolo College- j 




Krectbd Sept. 1, 1852, 
BY DESCENDANTS OF THE FIRST SETTLERS. 




Thomas Wisw:ill 

.rdaiiii'il RuIinaMik 

Uis Sons 

nocli, of Oorchestcr, 

died Nov. -.'8, IZOl). 

-K. 7.;. 



Rev. Ichabod, 

Minister of Duxbiiry 

:W ycar.«, 

Agent of Plynioiith 

Colony ill Eiislimd. Ji;!K> 

died July I'.'!, ll'du. 



Uu. 



Capt. Noah, of Newtoi), 

.•lu Officer ill the 

Kxjiedition against Canada. 

Killed iuUattle witli the 

hieiich and Indians 
July ti, IC'.lll. M. M. 
kavaig a son Thoiuus. 

llienezer, of Newton, 
ilied .lime 21, 1091. A''.. 45. 




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